Wheel 'n' Paw

At the suggestion of a friend, who once cared for a large dog like my Koda Bear, I strapped on my roller blades for what was to become our first Wheel 'n' Paw adventure.  My feet had not been strapped to inline wheels for over five years (or perhaps ten); but I wasn't necessarily thinking about that... It was just going to be a GREAT way to get Miss Dog some exercise - exercise I couldn't give her while on foot.

After a bit of wheeling around alone while Miss Dog was tied to a post, I felt that I had regained my skill sufficiently to take up the leash.  Miss Dog was leaping from paw to paw with happy excitement!!  

We went tenderly at first, I thanked God for grass (which slowed me down and upon which I could "walk") and the brake (which of course helped me to stop before rolling into oncoming traffic)!  

Destination:  Bethany's house, 2 miles due East.  

We kept to the sidewalks.  At first, it seemed Miss Dog instinctively understood that she should not cross in front of me.  Then, occasionally a scent caught her attention, and I had to jump to the other foot or slow down to avoid rolling over her paws.  Uneven sidewalks, sticks and rocks on the pavement were all somewhat of a threat, but the worst threat of all:  Miss Dog's incorrigible addiction to squirrels!!

Looking back, I realize, I presumed too much upon her loyalty to me, her owner of only 1 week.  I thought  she was tuned in and aware that her new master was on wheels and thus chasing a squirrel would NOT be a good idea.

After a short while, I dared to venture into a non-busy street - we could really pick up the pace and Miss Dog broke into a full out run.  (NOTE: To any concerned reader, I never allow her to pull me, we go at the same pace and each carry our own weight... I'm not training her to be an Alaskan sled dog!)

We were going at a pretty good clip... and then... "SQUIRREL!"

Before I knew what was happening, Koda darted from my right side, crossed in front of me and over to the left side of the road... I was braking, yanking her leash and yelling "NO!"  It must have been exhilarating to Miss Dog that she was finally going at the speed she needed to actually CATCH the squirrel...

Well...

Eventually, she stopped; and thanks to the rubber brake, so did I.  We did not collide into the parked cars, nor did I fall over when I hit the curb.  Additionally, Miss Dog did not catch the squirrel.  There were no oncoming cars to run us over... but... I knew then that I had to watch more diligently for squirrels if we were going to make it alive to Bethany's house.

Soon after that incident (and it happened more than once on the trip); there was a downward hill heading straight into Lexington Ave (a busy boulevard).  Koda and I resumed our journey on the sidewalk.  Once again over sticks, stones and cement blocks pushed out of place by protruding tree roots, I rolled and she ran.  We picked up speed heading down, down, down... ahead I could see cars flying by.  The old rubber brakes were original to the blades and I didn't know how much I had left to slow me down.  As we neared the Boulevard, I slowly shortened Koda's leash, braking now and then... soon I saw a grassy patch and a telephone poll.  Much to my relief I was able to slow down in the grass, and support myself with the poll until Koda and I had a green light.

Besides an occasional squirrel ... or plastic bag floating in the wind (highly resembling a small critter that really ought to be chased, caught and eaten), the remainder of the trip was uneventful.  We arrived safely at Bethany's house and enjoyed the company of both canine and human friends ... oh... and a feline too, but he got banished to the west wing.  

Wheel 'n' Paw had been a dashing success... still, I was relieved when Bethany offered to drive us home.

Name Tags!

Miss Dog received her official name tag in the mail today:  "Koda" B.  (B is for Bear.)  We ordered it at an incredible price from http://loveyourpets.com/ and it came in only a few days.  Miss Dog now sports a beautiful brass bone with her name and phone number on it!  I'm so proud!!

Naming Miss Dog

It took me about a month to settle on Miss Dog's name.  She was "Miss Dog" online to all my face book friends, but in person, she was a few things: Cesca (pronounced Cheh-ska) as in Francesca as in St. Francis... she was Honey Bunny, Sweet Pea, Scruffy Bubbles, Oatmeal, Penny.  I had tried to officially name her Magnolia Pearl, Penelope Pearl, or Francescan Ghita di San Charles (yes, really...).

She came with the name "Koda" from the humane society foster family.  I don't know if she had that name her whole life or if they gave it to her, but it seemed wrong for her somehow... to me, it felt like the name that should be given to an Alaskan Husky dog...  So, I couldn't settle with that name.  I tried Opal, Lucy, Lucci, Ginger, Pooh, Dot and finally I added Bear to Koda... she became Koda Bear; but I didn't even like that.

One night, when we were out walking - it was dusk and therefore a little dim - a large SUV stopped in the middle of the road and a woman called out to me, "Excuse me!?  Can I ask you what your dog's name is?"  (I nearly choked because it was so ironic... I DIDN'T HAVE A NAME for her at that time!)

Without answering, I stepped a little closer to talk to the woman and she continued, "My son has seen you and your dog walking around and he tells me, 'Mom, its the CLEANEST dog I've ever seen, I wonder what its name is!!'  he says he's going to have to wash his dog more often!"  I laughed at the story and then told her about the irony that she should ask about the dog's name!  We had a nice chat, and I told her that if her son comes up with any ideas of what to call my dog she should let me know!

In any case, after several weeks of half-heartedly trying a few names, I asked God to help me name my dog.  After some basic prayers, I threw "Penny" "Koda Bear" and a few other names in a dish; shook it up and drew... I was thinking the best 2 out of 3 would suffice.  It came out Koda Bear.  I was bummed.  So, I ignored it.

Then the next day, I kept trying to call her Penny... (which happened to be my favorite name choice of the day)... it sounded so nasally that I didn't like it.  At that point, I realized, I liked Koda.  NOT necessarily Koda Bear... but just plain old Koda.  That was it.  She was going to be Koda.  That night I ordered her name tag and liked how it looked:  "Koda" B.with our last name and phone number.

"Koda" from what I have found online means, "friend", "last born", "mother's pet", and "little bear"!  All very fitting meanings for my Miss Dog.

The Rabbit

One morning on our walk, Miss Dog saw a rabbit eating grass.  As usual, she stopped, raised her ears and fixed her gaze on it.  I paused to allow her to reminisce her hunting days.  The rabbit didn't move.  It was only five feet away, but a fence protected it from the dog.  

Perhaps Miss Dog realized the rabbit was untouchable, but she engaged in a long stare-down with her nose to the fence.  Suddenly, Miss Dog jerked forward and stopped just as suddenly… as if to perform an intentional false start.  This sent the poor frantic rabbit darting across the yard.  


Casually, Miss Dog turned and rejoined me for our walk... I could almost hear her saying with a smile, “Gotcha!”

(Photo used with permission from www.hoppelz.com.)

Scooting Her Way Into My Heart

Miss Dog and I have been settling in quite well together during this first week.  We go for two (or more) walks every day; she sleeps on the floor near my bed, gets plenty of food, treats, water and tummy rubs.  The crate that I frantically purchased the same day I got her, was returned a few days later - she simply didn't need it!

Generally speaking, it had been my intention to have her be an "off the furniture" dog.  Well...

One evening, as I sat on the couch working on my computer; she approached.  Without a moment's hesitation she jumped up onto the couch and settled into a furry circle - next to me.  As soon as it happened, I half-heartedly shouted "No! Off!"  Casually, she glanced at me, her large brown eyes saying, "Really?  Do you really want me off?"  *blink*blink*

"NO!" I repeated, "OFF!"  (This time, I tried to sound more convincing.)

She shifted so her head was nearer to me.

"NO!  OFF!"

She nuzzled her nose into my arm.

"No? Off?"

She scooted her whole self closer to me and rested her head on my leg, head down and eyes up as if to say, "Pleeeease?"  My heart melted to mush and I let her stay next to me.  Whatever I had been working on on my computer was set aside, as I sat quietly stroking her ears and thinking.  We sat there for a long time and all the while I wondered whether or not I would let the couch become her free domain!

Finally Home!!

Evening of March 10, 2012

We finally arrived home!  What would I do with my new dog?  The car trip home had told me she was just as gentle as the foster family had said; but the experience at the store told me she could get her way when she wanted it!

"Home?  Now what do we do, huh? Huh? HUH?!"  

Having learned from the experience in the parking lot (see prior posting "ESCAPE"), I let Miss Dog out of the car and into my home before attempting to remove the crate from the car.  Once everything was inside, Miss Dog (panting) followed me everywhere, frequently looking at the door and crying.  Between the panting, pacing, and crying, she seemed completely distraught.  Because of her crying, I must have taken her outside to "go" about ten times in the first hour or two!  Each time we'd come back without her having "gone", and she'd look at the door and cry some more.  It slowly occurred to me, she didn't have to "go" at all, she just, wanted... something... something I didn't understand.  So, I knelt down near her and told her everything was alright, stroking her fur gently.  She seemed to like that, but it didn't stop her from panting and looking lost.  Overall, she was very friendly and obedient (while indoors) with me.

I had to get some things done.  Much to my peace of mind, Miss Dog settled down and lay on the floor under the kitchen table while I did dishes.  At one point, some drops of water fell to the floor near her... she jumped up!  "What was that!?"  She looked at me, tongue hanging low, tummy sucking in and out heavily as her panting continued.  "Good girl, it's okay."  I patted her head several times and she laid back down.

Miss Dog - Lying on the floor while I did the dishes.

She seemed to like me, and I was relieved.  I started to think maybe this was going to work out after all.  But... I still had two weeks to decide for sure.

Later that night, I set up an old blanket on the floor with a teddy bear I had bought her.  She went STRAIGHT to it and laid down!  How did she know it was her spot?!  

Miss Dog - Settling into Her New Home

Going to bed that evening, I moved her "spot" to the floor next to my bed.  She curled up immediately for a restless night of sleep.  I lay awake most of the night, aware of her presence on the floor.  The next day was Sunday, and I had taken off on Monday... I was so tired... but I couldn't stop wondering if I had done the right thing in bringing this incredibly sweet, but completely dependent creature into my home.

Escape!

March 10, 2012 (still)
Before we arrived home from Mankato, I had to purchase a dog crate.  While the foster family had said it would be okay to leave her in the car briefly, Miss Dog had NOT made such an agreement!  As soon as I opened my door and tried to get out, she forcefully pushed into my back side and around me, succeeding in jumping out of the car.  She escaped, but only to be grabbed by the collar, walked back over and made to jump back into the the passenger seat.  I closed the door and she cried loudly as I walked away.

When I came back out, with my purchase in hand, she was curled up quiet and content... appearing sweet, innocent and harmless.  Clearly a cover up.  As soon as I opened the hatch back to load the heavy crate into my car, she jumped to her feet, hopped into the back seat and made her way to the open door!  I stupidly assumed that the height of the crate, on top of other boxes in my car would block her from escape!

With my hands occupied, and a six inch clearance between the top of the crate and the ceiling, Miss Dog saw her opportunity!!  She hopped onto the crate and with half of her body still on the seat below, she pushed all of her weight against the crate, as I tried to finagle it into the car.

Determined to get out and much stronger than I realized, Miss Dog eventually pushed her entire body onto the crate. She inched forward, like a soldier in a trench, and soon I had no choice but to let the crate go and use all of my resources to push her large body back into the car.  Unfortunately, she had the advantage of not caring what happened to the crate!

In spite of my frequent and desperate shouting of "No!", she now sat at the edge of the crate, her head in fresh air and her body still in the car.  She appeared to be smiling as her ears flapped in the wind.  At this, her moment of near triumph, I realized the only way I would ultimately win this battle without losing her, was to let her jump out, grab her collar and walk her back to the passenger seat (as we had done earlier).

As she jumped five feet to the ground, one of my arms prevented the crate from falling on top of her, while my other hand grabbed her collar.  Somehow, I secured the crate in the car before walking her back to the  front, making her jump in and closing the passenger door behind her.

Without a moment's hesitation, she jumped to the back seat and made her way toward the open hatch for round two!!  Thankfully, I had anticipated her intentions, and was able to run around the car, push the crate all the way in, and slam the door shut before she could repeat her strategic escape attempt again!

With my dog safely contained in the car, I relaxed long enough to notice that the people parked next to me had been watching the entire fiasco.  Embarrassed, I quickly got into my car and shut the door.  I felt suddenly afraid and deeply regretful that I had adopted this large, strong, and crazy dog.  If I had been overwhelmed when I signed the adoption papers back in Mankato; I was more overwhelmed after preventing her from escape.  I believe I had tears in my eyes, as we drove the rest of the way home.

The Overpass

March 10, 2012
Still on the way home and slightly delirious, I stared ahead at the road.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Miss Dog standing in the passenger seat, watching the cars, trees and other objects flying by.

At one point, I vaguely became aware, that she had just made a rather strange movement!  With her nose nearly touching the windshield; she gently dipped her head down low and brought it back up again.  I noticed, but wasn't sure what I had just seen.  Then, after another mile or so... she did it again... and then... she did it again!

Finally, it occurred to me, every time an overpass came up... she went down low to dodge it!  From her perspective, she was about to be hit hard in the head by a large, dark object coming at her at 70 miles per hour... so to avoid being hit, she stooped low and watched as it passed over her!

I laughed out loud at her brilliant innocence and said, "I hope you never grow out of that habit, Miss Dog!"

The Ride Home

March 10, 2012
She hadn't told me her name, but she was my new Miss Dog!  She seemed to settle in quickly to my company.  It was a long, overwhelming day... for both of us!  Her head drooped several times... before she gave in and went to sleep...

... but the seat was just a bit too small for her!  

The Adventure Begins

The adventure began on March 10, 2012 with a long drive to Mankato, MN.  I had been informed that this dog was a great "starter" dog; "laid back"; "goes with the flow", sleeps when there's nothing else to do; doesn't bark much and doesn't soil her kennel or the house.  In spite of not having even a small portion of my home prepared; I was determined to finally "adopt" a dog - THIS dog.  Actually, based on the description I'd received, I felt so certain; that I told myself if I don't adopt this dog, I would just stop looking for a dog!

The night before my trip, excitement kept me from sleep.  So, frankly by morning, I wasn't thinking straight!  The long drive did not clear my mind; it only gave me a case of "road daze"... the hypnotic state one gets into from the heat of the sun and the freeway lines passing at 70 miles per hour.  Still, I was determined.

When I first arrived and saw her; she was panting like a mad animal and jaggedly pacing as far as her leash would allow.  The very moment I approached and introduced myself, the foster lady handed me the leash and said, "Here, walk her around the store, talk to her, get used to her and see what you think!"  Naively grabbing the leash, we started to walk!  She was so strong, and I was so tired, that she pulled me everywhere, wagging her lethal tail!  With some small muster of fore-thought, I realized I would need a few dog things; so we made our way to the leash and collar aisle.  EVERY passer-by exclaimed how adorable she was and helped themselves to a moment of head petting - causing even more intense panting, tail wagging and pulling!!  The presence of other dogs was another threat - while much to my surprise this "laid back - go with the flow" dog wanted to sniff and bark at every four-legged creature!

Her large tail, wagging with innocent happiness managed to knock down a few shampoo bottles on the way and when a large Golden Retriever came along; this "good starter dog" at the end of the leash (which of course was attached to my arm) went ballistic with loud piercing barks and fierce attempts to get closer to the Golden Retriever.  With all the distractions, the strength of the dog, and my own state of road daze combined; it took me a good fifteen or twenty minutes to "come to" long enough to realize... I was completely overwhelmed.

The couple from the humane society - called a foster family - who cared for the dog continued to be reassuring.  Telling me it was the excitement of the new place and all the activity going on that was making her anxious and excited.  They knew my situation fully and repeatedly told me they had no qualms giving me THIS dog.

I, however, wasn't so sure.

In a rather short time, she had displayed little to no interest in me, had nearly attacked a very large dog, and had showed no restraint or obedience to my commands.  When I expressed my concerns, I was offfered an opportunity to "foster" her for two weeks as a trial.  I immediately said, "I'll take her!"   (While I am indecisive and non-committal by nature, I will nonetheless jump right into "commitments" that come prepackaged with an "out".)

Paperwork completed; food and leash purchased; and WE were on our way...HOME!